Pink, love and paint ~ Happy Valentines Day!

Happy Valentines Day!  I know that it has been awhile since I have posted.  I have been busy, finally tackling the last(?) of the painting in our home.  I will admit to being nervous about painting the remaining trim white, but after living with it dark for over a year, I decided that in my heart, the room wasn't quite the dream room I imagined. People always talk about resale values but in the end, you have to live in the home, so why shouldn't it reflect what you love.  If I ever do have to sell, it is only paint or perhaps someone will come along and fall in love with it, the same way I do everyday.  I have also been having a blast with Instagram.  So much inspiration out there!  Even with similar styles and love of Shabby Chic, I do love seeing original ideas come to fruition. They say imitation is the highest form of flattery... I continue to enjoy the hunt for treasures at the flea market and thrift stores.  You really don't have to spend a fortune to make your house a home.  I find that a tight budget makes me even more creative & resourceful.  So many people get intimidated but I always say, buy what you love!  I am very proud that so many pieces in my home tell a story, or remind us of days gone by.  In such a high tech, plastic world, we find ourselves clinging to simple, reflective feelings that faded and dusty items give us.  There is a certain comfort, a measure of security we should have when in our homes, away from the daily bustle of life.  Please enjoy the pictures below.  I continue to aspire to taking better pictures to share and consider it a constant learning process.  Much love and thank you for sharing your day with me. xoxo

Simple and sweet, as love should be

I often find myself digging through thrift stores, hunting for treasures.  You never know what you will find, or what will catch your eye but the hunt is the best part for me in this "click and buy" world. Vintage hats, unique glassware, a pretty vase.

I found this old box that once shipped school books off to college in the 60's.  I decided to mix up a whimsical color to take my imagination on a journey.

I actually picked up a paint brush for art, rather than walls and furniture, for the first time in years.  I love the process of creating something personal, that has meaning to you.  These are the touches that make a house, a home.

20 years of Shabby Chic Fabric, collected in lovely pillows

Forever Pieces

I came across this picture of my old living room, taken in the 90's.  I love seeing the same fabrics, pillows and even the same coffee table that are in my home today.  Trends come and go but personal style remains the same for me. 

In an era of texting, emails & posting, I try to keep the art of the handwritten note alive and well in our home.  It is sad that my 12yr old son was never taught cursive handwriting in school.  I scatter notepads and pens all over the house, and the family leaves notes for each other.  I also like to slip them in lunch bags, as a nice surprise and reminder that I am thinking of them.

A gathering of pretty things

Beautiful, soft pinks and florals. Romantic clothing that reflects my girly personality.  Often paired with jeans and overalls.

A small, side project a did.  Repurposed Florentine, covered in lace & vintage brooches.  Reminds me of Marie Antoinette...

Little details. Limoges cups discovered at the flea market. Chipped and worn but beautiful all the same.

I have a weakness for old crates and boxes.  I love the time worn look it brings to the room.  Not to mention, they are functional, perfect for displaying and storing goodies throughout the house.

I have loved vanity tables since sampling perfume from my grandmothers so many years ago.  My 2 year old niece is discovering the same joy every time she visits and wants a spritz of fragrance.  A ritual handed from one lady to a little lady in the making.

The last of the dark trim in the house.  I took a deep breath and painted for 3 days...

And the outcome was well worth it...perfect white on whites, giving our living room the open feel we desired and allowing the dark, wood floors to be their own star in the room.  It truly feels like my dream home now.

I found this chair at the flea market for $7.  Obviously, the lovely pink colour caught my eye and I knew it had to come home with me.  I do have a thing for chairs.

A coat or two of Annie Sloan chalk paint turns this into a chair fit for a princess.  Makes the perfect place to curl up with a magazine in my bedroom now.

An over abundance of roses for Valentine's Day.  Again, I love how colour pops in the living room now, against all shades and texture of white.

Amazing how large and airy the living room is now.  Serene but still squishy and cozy.

Our shabby, eclectic cottage home.

3 Shades of pink on my toes

I found this double sided chalkboard at a Habitat for Humanity ReStore for $30. A coat of paint and voila, a mood board of epic proportions!  So much room for so much inspiration!  Look forward to having this piece in my barn, the next big project!

Even in nature, an original stands out in the crowd.

Petticoat Pillow from Shabby Chic Couture & Roses from Whole Foods, perfect Valentines Surprise